Apparatus for forming belt loop blanks from a ribbon tube or string containing thermoplastic material

ABSTRACT

A machine for crimping a garment component comprising a feed section and a die and press section, including means for extracting a severed garment component from the die and press section, and means for controlling said machine; means for cycling said machine in an automatic mode of operation of said machine have also been provided.

3,770,54 Nov. 6, 1973 APPARATUS FOR FORMING BELT [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LOOP BLANKS FROM A RIBBON TUBE OR STRING CONTAINING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL 2,037,330 4/1936 Jackson.........'................. 2,471,447 3,390,438 3,561,057

3 X mm, 5 2H 4.4 .6 .2

5/1949 Perkins...... 7/1968 Epstein 2/1971 Louis William Breck, Jr., El Paso, Tex.

Inventor:

Assignee: Farah Manufacturing Company, primary g m p i -a Pas), Att0rneyCurtis, Morris & Safford July 29, 1971 221 Filed;.

[57] ABSTRACT A machine for crimping a garment component compress section, ind garment compo- Appl No.1 167,181

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rfr'raevsys AN APPARATUS FOR FORMING BELT LOOP BLANKS FROM A RIBBON TUBE OR STRING CONTAINING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL This invention pertains to a device for forming a workpiece such as a belt loop blank used with wearing apparel, e.g. on mens pants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the art of forming loop blanks such as belt loop blanks, it has been customary to form a belt loop blank from a ribbon, tube or string of a fabric which has been sewn together longitudinally. conventionally, the fabric is the same fabric from which the garment is made. Thereafter, a belt loop blank of an appropriate length is cut, its ends sewn so that these will not unravel and the belt loop is then sewn or attached to a fabric. However, the finishing of each end of each of the individual blanks is a time-consuming and costly procedure which has often been ignored except in the higher quality garments. As a consequence, the square ends of the belt loop blanks upon washing and/or pressing appear unsightly, further tend to unravel during use and in general create an unsightly appearance to the garment.

THE PRIOR ART In a previous application Ser. No. 83,823, filed Oct. 26, 1970, now US. Pat. No 3,649,144 entitled DE- VICE FOR FORMING BELT LOOP BLANKS by Louis William Breck, Jr., there has been described a machine for forming these belt loop blanks. Either individual belt loop blanks or a string of blanks chained together can be formed by the machine disclosed therein. The present invention is a further improvement and contribution and constitutes a second generation machine for accomplishing the same objective.

As disclosed in the application, the fabric from which the tube or string is made contains a certain amount of a synthetic (thermoplastic) material. A thermoplastic material may be incorporated within the tube in the event thesynthetic material content in the fabric is insufficient to assure satisfactory fusing upon crimping the fabric or if the fabric contains no synthetic material or a synthetic material which cannot be fused.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present machine consists of simple combination of elements acting with great reliability and speed and is capable of surpassing in performance the machine in the above-mentioned patent; the present machine consists of a feed section, a considerably simplified diepress section and improved control means.

In general, the departure in the process from the state of the art, which departure contributes to the further improvement in the production of belt loop blanks, resides in the ability not only to form the fused joint but also sever the formed belt loop blank at a predetermined position. I-Ience, it no longer requires the separately performed severance of each individual belt loop blanks effected at a different work station. As it can be well appreciated, the indexing or repeating of the first station position in a second station that is, the alignment of the cutting position after crimping has been carried out is not easy with a fabric; and for a limp fabric, considerable difficulties are encountered. With the present device the previously encountered problems are avoided.

In reference to the present invention and further in reference to the drawings wherein the same numbers describe the same elements and wherein:

FIGS. la, 1b and 1c illustrate a string from which belt loop blanks are formed, a string of belt loop blanks, and individual belt loop blanks, respectively;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view-of the novel machine for manufacture of the string of belt loop blanks or the individual belt loop blanks shown in FIGS. lb and 1c, respectively;

FIG. 3 depicts perspectively and in a partial exploded view the feed section as well as the instrument panel of the machine;

FIG. 4 illustrates in an exploded view the clamp bar and clamp plate assembly which acts with the feed dog illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 depicts in a top view the clamp bar interlock feeler assembly;

FIG. 6 depicts the front view, partially in cross section the die and press assembly;

FIG. 7 illustrates in a top view the plunger die section and the die blade assembly without the press bar;

FIG. 8 illustrates in a cross section along lines 88 of FIG. 6 the heated press section and the plunger die cutting the crimped belt loop blank;

FIG. 10 illustrates a second embodiment of a die blade for cutting the crimped belt loop blank;

FIG. 11 illustrates a third embodiment of a die blade for cutting the crimped belt loop blank;

FIG. 12 illustrates perspectively the front of the die and press section cover including the spout for removing belt loop blanks from the die and press section;

FIG. I3 illustrates perspectively the rear of the die and press section cover including the rearward protrusion of the spout for removing belt loop blanks from the die and press section;

FIG. 14 illustrates the pneumatic control circuit for the machine.

Referring now to the product produced by the machine depicted in the drawings identified above and for illustrating the operation of the same, FIGS. 1a, lb and 4 1c show the belt loop string as 10. A string of crimped but not severed belt loop blanks are illustrated in FIG. lb. Individual blanks 11 formed from string 10 are shown as II in FIG. 1c. The crimping point is shown as 12, and some of the conforming fiber in the crimp section as 13. As mentioned before, it is necessary for the formation of the belt loop blanks that the material contains synthetic (thermoplastic) fibers. Should the amount of the thermoplastic and fusible fiber in the fabric be inadequate, then an appropriate insert in the string 10 such as a strip of thermoplastic material (not shown) can be incorporated during the sewing of the fabric into string NB from which the belt loop blank 11 is made.

In reference to the machine shown in FIG. 2, it is placed on a stand 50, to which is attached a formed belt loop receptacle 44. The machine consists of a feed section 86 and a die and press section 85. An instrument panel 76 is also shown in FIG. 2. A general description of the machine follows to give an overall view of the machine. A belt loop blank 10 is fed under guide 16 and introduced under a friction pad rearward retarding means 17 and placed under a clamp pad 19, which clamp pad in turn is engaged by clamp spring 20 and clamp plate 21 shown in FIG. 4. Clamp pad 19 in turn is confined, and thereby the string 10, between rear longitudinal guide 22 and front longitudinal guide 24 which confines the clamp pad as well as the string.

Interlock feeler 26 is placed in notch 27 in clamp pad 19 and is used to monitor the proper operation of the machine, whereby the interlock feeler 26 indicates whether a string is being fed into the machine or ajamming of the die section has occurred or in general if the string has backed up.

Returning now to the belt loop strip as it is advanced for feeding to the die and press section 85, strip 10 is fed in feed section 86 for a predetermined distance by means of feed dog 63. attached to feed dog slider block 62 which is reciprocated by means of pneumatic fluid actuated feed piston 64 attached to the feed dog slider block 62 via rod 66 shown in FIG. 14. The means by which the monitoring of the feed cycle is being accomplished will be further described herein.

Thereafter, string 10 is fed through aperture 29 in the die and press section 85 shown further in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 herein. Each of the inwardly and outwardly reciprocating die blades 30 shown in die and press section 85 are operated by a pneumatically driven piston 31 via a piston rod 32 attached to said piston die blades 30 which are brought together when plunger die 34, driven by plunger die piston 36, is urged upwardly to confine a string 10 between plunger die 34 and the top bar 37 shown in FIG. 6.

As one or both of the die blades 39 are pointed, these effectively sever individually the belt loop blank at the point of the crimping, defined by the inward-most stroke of blades 30, the upward-most stroke of plunger die 34 and top bar or press bar 37. Various die blade embodiments have been illustrated in FIGS. 9, I0 and 11. If partial severance of the crimped blank is desired such as illustrated for the string in FIG. lb, the blades 30 as illustrated in FIG. I! are used. The assembly of the various die members and the precise operation of the die blades will be further explained herein.

After the individually crimped belt loop has been formed, a spout 42 attached to press cover 40 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 conducts the severed belt loop blank into a suitable receptacle 44 shown in FIG. 2.

In order to aid the positive severing of each of the belt loop blanks, the press cover 40 shown in FIGS. I2 and 13 has attached thereto spout arm 46 which exerts a downward and camming force when activated by remover cylinder 180 which, coupled with a sloping surface 43 of spout 42, acts to sever any strands should these have been left uncut by the die blades 30 and still be attached to the strip. Spout arm 46 is serrated, normally retracted (i.e. it does not obstruct the aperture 41 in cover 40) during the feed cycle, and engaged only when the plunger die 34 as well as the die blades 30 are in their inward operational cycle. In brief, the above describes the operation of the machine illustrating the formation of a belt loop blank from a strip.

Returning now to FIG. 2 for describing the present invention in greater detail, the machine is placed on a stand 50 which is also used as a convenient means for attaching receptacle 44 thereto. A deck 44a may be attached to the machine or the stand. Further, an instrument panel 70 for the machine, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, having a pair of pressure gauges 71 and an on-off or run and stop switch 72 is provided. Knobs 74 are for adjusting the pressure as appropriately determined by the pressure gauges. A turnable knob 76 is provided for adjusting the machine cycle rate as will be further illustrated.

A temperature meter 77 in conjunction with a setpoint temperature knob 79 as well as die heater on-off switch 80 control the heat supplied to die section by means of which the fusing of the belt loop blank is achieved. A monitor light 81 and an indicating fuse holder 82 complete the instrument panel.

On the side away from the instrument display panel are attached the pneumatic means, and the schematic representation of these is described and illustrated further in reference to FIG. 14 herein.

At one end of the instrument panel and extending slightly beyond it is mounting rail 84 which holds both the die and press section 85 as well as the feed section 86. An end rail 87 is at the other end of feed section 86. Mounted on top of rails 84 and 87 are the rear and front plates 89 and 90, respectively. Underneath the mounting rail 84 is attached thereto bottom plate 91, attached to the rear and front plates 89 and 90, respectively, by cylinder clamp blocks 99, as spacers for the bottom plate 91. The feed dog block 62 is confined between the front plate 90, rear plate 89 and the bottom plate 91 (shown in FIG. 3) with the feed dog 61 riding in an aperture or a cut out segment 92 formed in the front plate shown in FIG. 5.

Adjusting screw 94, the front end of which is inserted threadingly in aperture 100 in the cylinder mounting block and the other end of which is protruding through the end rail 87 and rotatingly but fixedly engaged therewith terminating in an adjusting knob 97, allows, by rotating knob 97, to regulate the placement of the feed dog cylinder 64 and thus the stroke length and thereby the length of the belt loop blank. A left hand and a right hand thread section may be provided for adjusting screw 94 which also allows the adjusting screw to be mounted threadingly in both the block 95 and end rail 87 for adjustment of feed dog cylinder 64 stroke. The adjusting screw protrudes through the cylinder clamp blocks 99 previously mentioned and is threaded through aperture 100 in cylinder block 95 in which cylinder 64 is rigidly and fixedly mounted.

Mounted on the rear plate 89 transversely to the feed direction and extending in a cross direction above the front plate 90 is a friction pad 17. It is in a form of an offset T, the far end of which is carrying two bolts 18 which ride through apertures 102 and are attached to spring 104 which in turn is attached to the rear plate 89. Spring 104 urges downwardly the friction pad 17; and as an appropriate spacer length has been provided for the bolts is, spring 104 allows the lifting as well as the positiveengagement of the friction pad 17 with a string from which the belt loop blanks are made and thereby the rearward movement of the string.

As mentioned before and as shown in FIG. 5, there is a longitudinal rear guide 22 and front guide 24 provided on top of the rear plate 89 and the front plate 90, respectively. These guides confine the belt loop strip under the clamp pad 19. A pair of slots 106 in each of the guides 22 and 24 through which bolts 197 are inserted in the respective rear and front plates 89 and 90 are used for adjusting for a desired width to accommodate a string from which a belt loop blank is made.

In feeding a strip 10 of belt loop blanks under the friction pad 17 and clamp pad 19, the front end of the friction pad 17 terminates in a lifting handle 109 for pad 17 which further permits the lifting of the clamp pad 19 because a protrusion 110 rests unnder the clamp pad 19. In turn as shown in FIG. 4, the clamp pad 19 is attached to clamp plate 21 by a pair of bolts 112. Underneath the clamp plate 21 is mounted (by means of bolts 114') sensor block 114a which houses a back pressure sensor port 115 indicating the engagement or non-engagement of the clamp plate 19 with string 19.

The principle of back pressure sensing has been explained inapplication Ser. No. 44,772, filed on June 9, 1970, in the name of Louis William Breck, Jr.

The clamp plate 21 in turn is attached to clamp plate hinge 116 (by bolts 116) to which (i.e. to hinge plate 116) is also attached clamp plate hinge spring 20 (by bolts 20). Clamp plate 21 has an aperture 119, and a corresponding aperture is also found in the clamp plate hinge spring 211 and designated as 120.

Attached to bottom plate 91 as shown in FIG. 3 is a clamp plate cylinder bracket 121 which carries clamp platecylinder 122 having a rod 124 which protrudes through apertures 119 and 120 in the clamp plate 21 and the clamp plate hinge spring 20, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the cylinder rod 124, on the top thereof, carries a screwed-on clamp cylinder bushing 126 which cooperates with the clamp plate 21 and spring 20 as well as with interlock feeler 26.

Interlock feeler 26 is placed in the clamp pad notch 27 as shown in FIG. 5 and monitors the proper operation of the device as follows. When interlock feeler 26 moves forwardly, as urged by the feed dog 61, it also moves the interlock stop arm 127 into the notch 129 of the rear guide 22. Interlock stop arm 127 is joined to interlock feeler 26 and rigidly affixed thereto with bolt 130 having a spacer (not shown) interposed therebetween. In turn, the connected interlock feeler 26 and interlock stop arm 127 pivot around shoulder screw 132.

In the event clogging of the die and press section 85 or entanglement of the strip occurs, the tendency of the strip 10 is to move back with the rearward motion of the feed dog 61 on its return stroke. Since the interlock feeler 26 is in contact with the strip 111, interlock feeler 26 also moves back and interposes the stop arm 127 between the shoulder 134 of bushing 126 and rear plate 89. The same result occurs if the machine runs out of material since the interlock feeler 26is in direct contact with the feed dog 61 on its return stroke. The stop arm 127 thereby prevents the clamp plate cylinder 122 from moving downwardly the clamp plate 21 as well as the clamp pad 19.

The forward motion of the interlock feeler 26 on'the feed stroke is limited by the front part of the clamp pad notch 27. Accordingly, the initiation of another feed cycle is prevented by keeping open the back pressure sensor port 115 in back pressure sensor block 114. If proper operation takes place, then the back pressure sensor port 115 closes as properly blocked by a small gasket 115d placed on spring signaling the proper feed, and thus the feed cycle can proceed as will be explained in greater detail relating to the control means.

In reference to the die and press section 85 shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7 and 8, frame 150 having two platforms 151 on each arm thereof and, mounting lugs 152 on inside and 154 on outside of each arm near the platform 151, is attached to mounting rail 84.

At the bottom of frame in an aperture 36a is threadingly engaged plunger die cylinder 36 protruding via rod 32 and carrying on rod 32 a retracting clip 161. Retracting clip 161 is engaged to the plunger die 34 through a suitable extension therefor such as a shoulder screw 162 via the shoulders of same and nut 162a. Shoulder screw 162 is fixedly attached to plunger die 34.

At opposite sides of frame 150 on the platform 151 are mounted identical cylinders 31 which are used for activating die blades 30. Cylinders 31 move the die blades 30 reciprocally inwardly and outwardly in a direction perpendicular to plunger die 34.

The die blades 30 are linked to cylinders 31 via extension link 156, each of which is carried at the end of each rod 32. The extension link 156 is shown in FIG. 6, and it has an aperture 164 through which a projection 166' in the die blade 30 is inserted.

lnwardly and underneath platform 151 is mounted a heat insulation block 157 with an insulation plate 159 and carrying attached thereto mounting arm 160, which in turn is attached to die spacer 167. The die housing 149 consists of a front plate 169 (towards feed section 86), a rear plate 170, and a top bar or press bar 37 which has at the anderside a small press land 173. A corresponding land 173 is also on the plunger die 34. To the rear plate 170 is attached a heater block 171 having two resistance heater apertures 172 wherein appropriate resistance-type heaters (not shown) may be inserted. The front plate 169, the spacers 167, the back plate 170 and the heater blocks are all joined by appropriate means such as volts to form the die and press housing 149 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.

A suitable thermistor or a temperature control detector may be inserted in aperture 177 in top bar 37 with a thermistor being shown as 176. The apertures 29 through which the formed belt loop blank is fed in each of these plates, i.e. front plate 169, rear plate 170 and heating block 171, has been designated as 29 for all of these members.

The die blades 31) are represented in one of three embodiments. in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 illustrates a sharp edged blade 30 and a blunt edged blade 30a having a blunt section 30b about one thirty-second inches wide used in conjunction with a sharp blade 30. The blunt blade 30a serves as an anvil.- The use of a blunt blade 30a ensures closing of the space between the blades regardless of any slight misalignment between the blades 30 and 30a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the dimensions of the blades and die plunger 34 are arranged so that there is a gap 34d between either blade stop block 33 and the plunger. Thus, the stop blocks 33 serve as centering members and allow the full force of the die blade cylinders 31 to be exerted on the points.

In accordance with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, it has the advantage of ensuring full contact between the points. However, as a gap 34d is provided, eventual dulling of the sharp point occurs.

In reference to the second embodiment for the die blades shown in FIG. 10, it is similar to embodiment shown in FIG. 9 except that both stops 33 contact the plunger die 34 at the same time that the die points made contact. This results in less wear on he sharp die blade 39 points, but closing of the blades 30 is not as positive as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

In reference to FIG. 11, the blades 30 depicted there have two sharp points which do not meet. TI-Iis produces a string of blanks still joined such as shown in FIG. 1b.

The die and press assembly 85 is covered with a press cover 40 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 having an aperture therein 41 to which is attached a press cover spout 42 wherein a belt loop blank is being fed for engagement in next cutting and/or crimping position. As the blank protrudes through the die assembly, the serrated spout arm 46 rests above aperture 41 by being pivoted upwardly by means or remover cylinder 180, its rod 181 being attached to the spout arm 46 by a swivel connection 184 which in turn is attached to the downwardly projecting arm 185 of the spout arm 46. Arm 46 in turn pivots on cover 40 through a universal joint 189 and in normally nonengaged position is restrained flatly against the front part of the press cover 40 by spring 186 being urged against arm 185.

The universal joint 189 is mounted on cover 40 by means of a swivel plate 187. As the cylinder 180 urges forwardly the arm 185 via the rod 181 and swivel connection 184, the downwardly projecting spout arm 185, spring 186 restrains the downwardly projecting spout arm 185 from moving the spout arm 46 outwardly and instead causes it to ride or cam on the spout surface 43 until the belt loop blank residing on surface 43 has been engaged by arm 46. One upward edge 42a of the spout 42 also confines, by means of aperture 46a, spout arm 46 in the spout 42. At the end of the stroke should there be any remaining strands between the unsevered strip and the belt loop blank, the same is severed by means of the spout arm 46.

The means which control the present device will now be described in greater detail by making reference to the various parts identified herein and by making reference to FIG. 14. Thus when valve 73 is turned on, valve 197 goes on, clamp cylinder 122 goes up, plunger die cylinder 36 is activated urging plunger die 34 upwardly; remover cylinder 180 starts to operate; flow control valve 186a slows downward motion of spout arm 46 so that a blank is substantially severed by die blades 30 before spout arm 46 starts its pulling action. Pressure valve 199 opens when pressure in line to plunger die cylinder 36 reaches 60 psi. This ensures that die blades 30 are securely clamped before initiation of the cutting action. Die blade cylinders 31 urge die blades 30 inwardly thus cutting a loop; spout arm 46 via cylinder 180 pulls a blank from aperture 29 in die section 85. A procedure for determining the proper operation of the die and press section has been described.

Next, when valve 72 is turned on (valve 73 is now off) for the operation of the machine, shop air depressurized to 15 psi is admitted to the top of the clamping cylinder 122 closing back pressure sensing port 115 which is also designated for purposes of control description as a clamp interlock and identified in FIG. 14 schematically and in FIG. 4 as a back pressure sensing port 115.

Closing of port 115 causes the valve 190 to be activated thus admitting shop air at 80 psi to cylinder 64 urging forwardly feed dog slider block 62. As the clamp bar 19 is down and feed dog 611 has engaged the belt loop string 10, the die section 85 is being fed for a crimping action. When cylinder 64 has urged feed dog slider block 62 abuttingly against mounting rail 84, an elastomeric pad 19ld blocks sensing port 191 causing the chamber 196 in feed dog slider block 62 to be blocked building up pressure in the same and through an interconnecting line as shown in FIG. 14 activate valve 190. As explained before, valve 197 admits air to plunger die cylinder 36, the bottom of clamp cylinder 122 releasing clamp bar 19, the remover cylinder 180 and also the pressure sensitive valve 199.

When air admitted to the bottom of the clamp cylinder 122 extends the clamp cylinder piston rod 124, clamp plate 21 is released, allowing spring 22 to open (clamp interlock) sensing port thereby turning off valve cylinder 64 discharges through the exhaust port 201 of quick exhaust valve 200. An adjustable opening valve 201a for exhaust valve 200 allows the operator to set the rate of return of the spring loaded piston in cylinder 64 and thus sets, by means of a turn knob 76 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a predetermined cycle rate for the machine.

As feed dog slider block 62 is returning to the rearward position, escape of air from chamber 196 is prevented by check valve 192 and poppet valve 194 illustrated schematically in FIG. 14, thereby keeping valve 197 activated. However, when feed dog slider block 62 reaches its rear-most position, feed cylinder 64 mounting block 95 opens poppet valve 194 discharging chamber 196 thereby turning off valve 197 and allowing the machine to return to its starting mode, i.e. initiation of another feed cycle.

The temperature of the resistance heating elements inserted in block 171 (not shown) is controlled by well known temperature control elements which act in combination with (a) the temperature probe, i.e. thermistor 176 at the work location in top bar 37; (b) an on-off resistance type of heating element to heat block 171; (c) a device to set the desired temperature such as the adjustable indicator knob 79; and (d) a control circuit interconnected with (a), (b), and (c), which turns the heating element on when the sensed temperature is less than the desired temperature set and turn the heating element off when the sensed temperature is greater than the desired temperature. Various set-temperature controllers are available in the art.

As described above, a machine has been provided which comprises of a reliable feed means, a die and press means in which an individual belt loop blank or a string of belt loop blanks is crimped, severed and removed or crimped and removed but not severed, and means which control and cycle the machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for forming a blank, such as a belt loop blank, from an elongated work piece containing thermoplastic material comprising:

a crimping station;

means for intermittent feeding of said work piece to said crimping station;

means at said crimping station for hot die crimping said work piece to form crimped sections in said work piece at predetermined locations as the work piece is fed through said crimping station by said feeding means.

2. The machine as described in claim 1 wherein said means for hot die crimping includes first and second die blades mounted at said crimping station for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other on opposite sides of the path of travel of said work piece through the crimping station, said first die blade comprising a pointed blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, said second die blade comprising a blunt blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto; and a plunger die mounted at said crimping station for selective movement into a position between said stop blocks when said blades are reciprocated towards each other, said plunger die and stop blocks having predetermined relative dimensions whereby said plunger die and only one of said stop blocks abuttingly engage each other when said die blades engage each other.

3. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for hot die crimping includes first and second die blades, said first die blade comprising a sharp blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, said second die blade comprising a blunt blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, a plunger die mounted at said crimping station for movement into a position between said stop blocks when said blades are reciprocated towards each other, a press member mounted at said crimping station on the side of the path of travel of the work piece through the crimping station opposite the plungerdie, means for urging said plunger die abuttingly against a work piece and said press member at the crimping station and into position between said die blades, and means for urging said die blades towards each other, said plunger die and said stop blocks having predetermined relative dimensions whereby said plunger die engages each of the stop blocks when said blades abut against each other.

4. The machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said means for die crimping includes first and second die blades, mounted at said crimping station for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other on opposite sides of the path of travel of said work piece through the crimping station, said first and second die blades respectively comprising a pointed blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, a plunger die mounted at said crimping station for movement into a position between said stop blocks when said blades are reciprocated towards each other, a press member mounted atsaid crimping station on the side of the path of travel of a work piece through the crimping station opposite to theplunger die, means for urging said plunger die against said work piece and said press member at the crimping station and abuttingly against said blades, and means for urging said blades and associated stop blocks towards each other, said plunger die and stop blocks having predetermined relative dimensions, whereby said stop blocks abut said plunger die without abuttingly engaging said blades.

5. A machine for forming a blank such as a belt loop blank from a string containing a thermoplastic material comprising:

a crimping station;

means for intermittent feeding of said string to said crimping station; 7 means at said crimping station for hot crimping said string to form crimped sections in said string, said crimping means including means for cutting said string at said crimped sections to form a blank; 7 means for positively severing said blank from said string;

andmeans for controlling te operation of said feeding means, crimping means and severing means in a predetermined sequence whereby a plurality of blanks are formed from a string.

6. A machine for forming a blank from a string containing thermoplastic material comprising:

a string crimping station;

means for confining said string for movement along a predetermined path of travel through said crimping station; means at said crimping station for intermittently clamping said string in a predetermined position;

means for intermittently feedingly advancing said string along said predetermined path of travel through said crimping station;

means at said crimping station for crimping said string to formed crimped sections therein, said crimping means including means for die cutting said string at said crimped sections;

and means for positively severing a blank from said string after crimping at said crimping station.

7. A machine for forming a belt blank from a string containing a thermoplastic material comprising:

a string crimping station;

means at said crimping station for confining said string to movement along a predetermined path of travel, said confining means includingfirst and second spaced restraining means located on opposite sides of said path of travel;

means for intermittently clamping said string at said station between said restraining means;

means for intermittently feeding said string forwardly along said path of travel through said crimping station; means operatively interconnected with said clamping means for feeling forward and rearward movement of said string through said station and for preventing clamping of said string by said clamping means when rearward movement of said string is felt;

means for intermittently disengaging said means for clamping said string from clamping engagement with the string; means for moving said feeding means between first and second positions at said station respectively defining a feeding position and an end feeding position, said moving means being operatively interconnected with said means for disengaging to activate the means for disengaging as said feeding means is returned from said end feeding position to said feeding position by said moving means;

means for restraining rearward movement of said string at said crimping station;

cooperating die and press means at said crimping station for crimping said string at intermittent locations to form said blanks;

means for heating said die and press means;

said die means including die cutting means for cutting said string at the crimps formed therein by said die and press means; and

means for severing positively from the string the blanks formed in said string at the crimping station, said severing means being operatively interconnected with said die, cutting and feeding means for sequential operation therewith. 8. The machine for forming blanks as defined in claim 7, including means for automatically cycling each of said means.

9. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for confining said string include means for adjusting spacedly apart said first and second restraining means.

10. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for feeding include means for operatively interconnecting said means for feeding with said means for clamping and said means for feeling said string.

11. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for clamping include a clamp bar, a clamp plate attached to said clamp bar, a clamp spring, a back pressure sensor pad attached to said clamp plate, pivot means, said clamp plate and said clamp spring interconnected to said pivot means and each restrainingly articulatable from the other, means for articulating said clamp plate about said pivot means including means for interconnecting said means for articulating with means for feeling a forward movement of said string.

12. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein the die means include a plunger including a die land thereon, a first plate and a second plate including an aperture in said first and second plate, heating means for said plunger, and means for reciprocating said plunger between said first plate and a second plate upwardly against said die land.

13. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for die cutting include a pair of channel members, a pair of die knives, each of said knives attached to said channel members, a guide means for said channel members, said channel members guidingly reciprocating in said guide means and a knife abuttingly reciprocating against a press means for said die plunger.

14. The machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein the means for feedingly advancing said string include means for varying a feed advance distance.

15. The machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein the means for intermittent feeding of said string include:

means for engaging said string;

means for clampingly holding said string;

means for feedingly advancing said means for engagmeans for disengaging said means for clampingly holding said string;

means for returning to a ready-to-engage position said means for engaging;

means for controlling said means for intermittent feeding including:

means for detecting of jamming of a string;

means for detecting engagement of string with means for clampingly holding said workpiece;

means for detecting completion of a feed cycle;

means for detecting completion of a work cycle;

means for signaling a ready-to-feed position of said meansfor engaging;

and means for varying a rate of feed of said string.

16. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for restraining rearward movement of said string comprise a plate including a side, an end thereof, a protrusion from said side engaging said string, a spring means attached to said plate, a handle means protruding from said end, said protrusion from said side being operatively engageable with means for clamping of said string.

17. The machine as defined in claim 5 and wherein the means for positively severing said workpiece include a plate including an aperture thereof, a spout means protrudingly attached to said plate below said aperture including an upturned side thereof, a spout arm pivotingly and articulatingly attached to said plate, a spring means for said spout arm, means for pivoting and articularing said spout arm for camming engagement with said spout and a blank therein and means for return of said spout arm above said spout and said aperture.

18. The machine according to claim 7 and wherein the means for feeding said string include a block, a serrated surface thereof for engaging a string; means for reciprocating said block between a first surface and a second surface; means for varying the distance between said first and second surface; means for varying the rate of reciprocation; a chamber within said block having a first, second and third aperture therein; wherein said chamber is interconnected with a control pneumatic fluid supply and with said first aperture means for clamping said string; means for monitoring the proper operation of said means for clamping; and means for returning said feeding means;

wherein said chamber is interconnected with a control pneumatic fluid supply and with said first aperture and second aperture via a check valve operatively interconnected therewith with means for feeding and inoperatively interconnected therewith when interconnected with means for returning said feeding means and further interconnected with means for initiating a work cycle in another work station, means for disengaging said means for clamping said string, and means for delaying a termination of an initiated work cycle;

wherein said chamber is interconnected with a control pneumatic fluid supply with said first aperture via said check valve and with said second and third aperture and said means for delaying said termination with a poppet valve.

9- Th mashin asd fined.in lai n .18 an wh in said poppet valve is interconnected with means for initiating a work cycle. 

1. A machine for forming a blank, such as a belt loop blank, from an elongated work piece containing thermoplastic material comprising: a crimping station; means for intermittent feeding of said work piece to said crimping station; means at said crimping station for hot die crimping said work piece to form crimped sections in said work piece at predetermined loCations as the work piece is fed through said crimping station by said feeding means.
 2. The machine as described in claim 1 wherein said means for hot die crimping includes first and second die blades mounted at said crimping station for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other on opposite sides of the path of travel of said work piece through the crimping station, said first die blade comprising a pointed blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, said second die blade comprising a blunt blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto; and a plunger die mounted at said crimping station for selective movement into a position between said stop blocks when said blades are reciprocated towards each other, said plunger die and stop blocks having predetermined relative dimensions whereby said plunger die and only one of said stop blocks abuttingly engage each other when said die blades engage each other.
 3. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for hot die crimping includes first and second die blades, said first die blade comprising a sharp blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, said second die blade comprising a blunt blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, a plunger die mounted at said crimping station for movement into a position between said stop blocks when said blades are reciprocated towards each other, a press member mounted at said crimping station on the side of the path of travel of the work piece through the crimping station opposite the plunger die, means for urging said plunger die abuttingly against a work piece and said press member at the crimping station and into position between said die blades, and means for urging said die blades towards each other, said plunger die and said stop blocks having predetermined relative dimensions whereby said plunger die engages each of the stop blocks when said blades abut against each other.
 4. The machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said means for die crimping includes first and second die blades, mounted at said crimping station for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other on opposite sides of the path of travel of said work piece through the crimping station, said first and second die blades respectively comprising a pointed blade and a stop block operatively connected thereto, a plunger die mounted at said crimping station for movement into a position between said stop blocks when said blades are reciprocated towards each other, a press member mounted at said crimping station on the side of the path of travel of a work piece through the crimping station opposite to the plunger die, means for urging said plunger die against said work piece and said press member at the crimping station and abuttingly against said blades, and means for urging said blades and associated stop blocks towards each other, said plunger die and stop blocks having predetermined relative dimensions, whereby said stop blocks abut said plunger die without abuttingly engaging said blades.
 5. A machine for forming a blank such as a belt loop blank from a string containing a thermoplastic material comprising: a crimping station; means for intermittent feeding of said string to said crimping station; means at said crimping station for hot crimping said string to form crimped sections in said string, said crimping means including means for cutting said string at said crimped sections to form a blank; means for positively severing said blank from said string; and means for controlling te operation of said feeding means, crimping means and severing means in a predetermined sequence whereby a plurality of blanks are formed from a string.
 6. A machine for forming a blank from a string containing thermoplastic material comprising: a string crimping station; means for confining said string for movement along a predetermined path of travel through said crimping station; means at said crimping station for intermittently cLamping said string in a predetermined position; means for intermittently feedingly advancing said string along said predetermined path of travel through said crimping station; means at said crimping station for crimping said string to formed crimped sections therein, said crimping means including means for die cutting said string at said crimped sections; and means for positively severing a blank from said string after crimping at said crimping station.
 7. A machine for forming a belt blank from a string containing a thermoplastic material comprising: a string crimping station; means at said crimping station for confining said string to movement along a predetermined path of travel, said confining means including first and second spaced restraining means located on opposite sides of said path of travel; means for intermittently clamping said string at said station between said restraining means; means for intermittently feeding said string forwardly along said path of travel through said crimping station; means operatively interconnected with said clamping means for feeling forward and rearward movement of said string through said station and for preventing clamping of said string by said clamping means when rearward movement of said string is felt; means for intermittently disengaging said means for clamping said string from clamping engagement with the string; means for moving said feeding means between first and second positions at said station respectively defining a feeding position and an end feeding position, said moving means being operatively interconnected with said means for disengaging to activate the means for disengaging as said feeding means is returned from said end feeding position to said feeding position by said moving means; means for restraining rearward movement of said string at said crimping station; cooperating die and press means at said crimping station for crimping said string at intermittent locations to form said blanks; means for heating said die and press means; said die means including die cutting means for cutting said string at the crimps formed therein by said die and press means; and means for severing positively from the string the blanks formed in said string at the crimping station, said severing means being operatively interconnected with said die, cutting and feeding means for sequential operation therewith.
 8. The machine for forming blanks as defined in claim 7, including means for automatically cycling each of said means.
 9. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for confining said string include means for adjusting spacedly apart said first and second restraining means.
 10. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for feeding include means for operatively interconnecting said means for feeding with said means for clamping and said means for feeling said string.
 11. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for clamping include a clamp bar, a clamp plate attached to said clamp bar, a clamp spring, a back pressure sensor pad attached to said clamp plate, pivot means, said clamp plate and said clamp spring interconnected to said pivot means and each restrainingly articulatable from the other, means for articulating said clamp plate about said pivot means including means for interconnecting said means for articulating with means for feeling a forward movement of said string.
 12. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein the die means include a plunger including a die land thereon, a first plate and a second plate including an aperture in said first and second plate, heating means for said plunger, and means for reciprocating said plunger between said first plate and a second plate upwardly against said die land.
 13. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for die cutting include a pair of channel members, a pair of die knives, each of said knives attached To said channel members, a guide means for said channel members, said channel members guidingly reciprocating in said guide means and a knife abuttingly reciprocating against a press means for said die plunger.
 14. The machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein the means for feedingly advancing said string include means for varying a feed advance distance.
 15. The machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein the means for intermittent feeding of said string include: means for engaging said string; means for clampingly holding said string; means for feedingly advancing said means for engaging; means for disengaging said means for clampingly holding said string; means for returning to a ready-to-engage position said means for engaging; means for controlling said means for intermittent feeding including: means for detecting of jamming of a string; means for detecting engagement of string with means for clampingly holding said workpiece; means for detecting completion of a feed cycle; means for detecting completion of a work cycle; means for signaling a ready-to-feed position of said means for engaging; and means for varying a rate of feed of said string.
 16. The machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said means for restraining rearward movement of said string comprise a plate including a side, an end thereof, a protrusion from said side engaging said string, a spring means attached to said plate, a handle means protruding from said end, said protrusion from said side being operatively engageable with means for clamping of said string.
 17. The machine as defined in claim 5 and wherein the means for positively severing said workpiece include a plate including an aperture thereof, a spout means protrudingly attached to said plate below said aperture including an upturned side thereof, a spout arm pivotingly and articulatingly attached to said plate, a spring means for said spout arm, means for pivoting and articularing said spout arm for camming engagement with said spout and a blank therein and means for return of said spout arm above said spout and said aperture.
 18. The machine according to claim 7 and wherein the means for feeding said string include a block, a serrated surface thereof for engaging a string; means for reciprocating said block between a first surface and a second surface; means for varying the distance between said first and second surface; means for varying the rate of reciprocation; a chamber within said block having a first, second and third aperture therein; wherein said chamber is interconnected with a control pneumatic fluid supply and with said first aperture means for clamping said string; means for monitoring the proper operation of said means for clamping; and means for returning said feeding means; wherein said chamber is interconnected with a control pneumatic fluid supply and with said first aperture and second aperture via a check valve operatively interconnected therewith with means for feeding and inoperatively interconnected therewith when interconnected with means for returning said feeding means and further interconnected with means for initiating a work cycle in another work station, means for disengaging said means for clamping said string, and means for delaying a termination of an initiated work cycle; wherein said chamber is interconnected with a control pneumatic fluid supply with said first aperture via said check valve and with said second and third aperture and said means for delaying said termination with a poppet valve.
 19. The machine as defined in claiim 18 and wherein said poppet valve is interconnected with means for initiating a work cycle. 